Stolen merchandise found in trunk after car is stopped on I-75. The photo shows only a portion of items found. Photo provided by Lee County Sheriff's Office

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office today said that on November 16 at around 2:45 p.m., two detectives assigned to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Highway Interdiction Unit were patrolling I-75 in North Fort Myers. The detectives conducted a traffic stop on a rented 2010 Chevrolet Malibu for failing to comply with the “Move Over Act.”

The vehicle had three occupants. Upon making contact with the driver, the detective noticed an odor of burnt marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle. There were numerous empty shopping bags and nursing outfits on the floor. Detectives were able to determine that none of the vehicle’s occupants worked in the medical field. Numerous other indicators of criminal activity were also present during the stop, including the observation of several suspected “booster bags” used to defeat store security systems, investigators said.

The renter / lessee of the vehicle, Glenice Parks, denied detectives consent to search the vehicle. A Narcotics K-9 was utilized and alerted to the presence of the odor of narcotics in the vehicle, investigators said. It was learned that Parks was wanted on a warrant from Georgia for theft. Another warrant was out of Lee County, also for theft.

A search of the vehicle was conducted, and four separate “booster bags” lined with a metallic substance were located inside the vehicle. Additionally, items commonly used to fabricate these types of bags were also inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, investigators said.

Upon opening the trunk, the entire area was filled with bags of stolen merchandise from area Outlets including Levi, Michael Kors and Aeropostale. The items included nine Michael Kors bags valued at more than $400 apiece and approximately 30 pairs of Levi Jeans valued at $40 apiece. Also found were 15 Ralph Lauren Polo shirts valued at $80 each along with additional items determined to be stolen. Most of the stolen property still had the security tags still attached, investigators said. The recovered stolen property is estimated to be worth more than $5,550.

Detectives from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Delta District responded to assume the investigation after it was determined that the thefts occurred in the Miromar Outlets area earlier in the day. Delta District detectives are currently working with the area businesses that were targeted and are attempting to return the stolen.

Detectives arrested Marcel Barlatier, 33, Tammy Tarver, 42, and Glenice Parks, 43. on charges including possession of anti-shoplifting countermeasure devices and grand theft. All three suspects are from the Miami area.